The Fortin’s Village Classic Car Show usually draws about 300 cars to downtown Chilliwack. This year’s event has had to be cancelled due to expected poor weather on Sunday, June 23. (Jenna Hauck/Progress file)

Chilliwack car show cancelled due to weather forecast

Popular Village Classic car show will not be rescheduled, say organizers

Poor weather forecasted for Sunday has put the brakes on Chilliwack’s most popular car show.

It was announced on Friday afternoon that the Fortin’s Village Classic would have to be cancelled this year, “due to weather concerns.”

“This is not an easy decision, especially when based on a weather forecast, and certainly one that the organizing committee understands will be controversial for many people,” the announcement from organizers reads.

“While the Fortin’s Village Classic is an extremely popular and successful community event, the stars of the show are the vintage vehicles and the owners that dedicate their time to bring them out for viewing,” it continues. “Not everything stops when the rain comes, but it understandably keeps many car collectors from venturing out.”

Without a large number of quality cars, it’s hard to put on a show worth going to.

The Chilliwack Downtown BIA and the show’s organizing committee spoke with their sponsors, vendors, volunteers and car people before coming to the decision to cancel.

“There are far too many people involved in the operations to leave the call until the last minute,” the organizers say.

The show will not be rescheduled, as the calendar for car shows is already filled up for southern B.C. But, they are looking for other opportunities to put some vintage vehicles on display downtown in the near future.

Environment Canada is calling for several days of heavy rain, beginning on Sunday morning. They are currently forecasting for 60 per cent chance of rain straight through to next Thursday.

However not all of the events connected to the Classic have been cancelled. The West Coast Pinups “Best in Show” Pinup Contest will still be running. They have partnered with Scarecrow Ink to present the pageant at their BBQ event.

That event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 46245 Yale Road and will include flash tattoos, live music and more.